Combatting ventilator induced diaphragm dysfunction with human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles

Prolonged mechanical ventilation is closely associated with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD). These two conditions occur in parallel and contribute to delayed weaning, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and poor clinical outcomes. This study evaluated whether human BM-MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can simultaneously alleviate lung and diaphragm abnormalities in a unique rat experimental ICU (ExICU) model.

Rats were subjected to 5 days of controlled mechanical ventilation with or without a single intravenous EV dose. Outcomes included lung histopathology, diaphragm single-fiber contractile function, transcriptomics and metabolomics of diaphragm muscle, proteomics and metabolomics of lung tissue, and serial proteomics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

Five days of mechanical ventilation in the ExICU model were accompanied by severe lung morphological damage and approximately 50% reductions in diaphragm fiber size and specific force. EV treatment was associated with parallel improvements in lung pathology and diaphragm function. Multi-omics revealed coordinated molecular disturbances across lung, BALF, and diaphragm after mechanical ventilation, the majority of which were reversed by EVs.

Our findings demonstrate an association between lung injury and diaphragm dysfunction during prolonged mechanical ventilation. BM-MSC-derived EVs exert parallel protective effects on both organs and represent a promising intervention to reduce complications of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients.